Don Eugene Daugherty

Don Eugene Daugherty was born December 2, 1926 in Walters, Oklahoma to Harry Tracy Daugherty and Zorah Henderson Daugherty and departed this life in Midland, TX on July 5, 2015 at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 3 days. He attended school in Walters and graduated in 1944. He attended Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was active in their basketball program. This was just before entering the Navy in World War II. He was stationed aboard the S.S. New Orleans from 1945 to 1946. He earned his B.S. in Geology from the University of Oklahoma in 1950. Gene married JoAnne Stevenson on December 26, 1949, in Walters, Oklahoma. Gene's career as a geologist began with Sinclair Oil and Gas, and took him from Wichita Falls, Texas to Fort Worth, and Midland, Texas, where he worked from 1952 to 1960. After a year in Roswell, New Mexico, Gene returned to Midland as District Geologist. At the time of Sinclair's merger with Arco in 1960, he continued to work for Arco and transferred to Dallas from 1972 to 1975, returning to Midland in 1975. He retired from Arco in 1985 as an Exploration Manager. During his career with Sinclair-Atlantic, he participated in the discovery and development of numerous fields in West Texas and New Mexico. He was a 32nd degree Mason in the Cache Valley Lodge of Walters, Oklahoma, and a member of several professional organizations. Gene was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnne; as well as by his parents, grandparents, several aunts and uncles and one nephew. Gene is survived by his son, Tracy Don Daugherty and his wife Margie and daughter Hannah of Corvallis, Oregon, and by his daughter Debra Jane Vetter and her husband Charlie and their son Joseph Eugene Vetter of Midland; and by his brother J.C. Daugherty and his wife Lois of Oklahoma City; as well as by several nieces and nephews. Visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at Ellis Funeral Home in Midland, Texas. Visitation will follow at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters, OK on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with Graveside Services at the Walters Cemetery on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.